Sorting machine



3 Sheets-Sheet. l

HF, @img v man uw IIMWIbIi-uln A @a m INVENTOR. 4 BURTON R. GARRETT ATTORNEY Dec. 1, v1953 B, R, GARRETT 2,661,090

SORTING MACHINE Filed sept. 28, 194e s sheets-sheen 2 A INVENTOR. BURTON R. GARRETT BYQ.

ATTORNEY Dec. 1, 1953 B. R. GARRETT soRTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheer. 5

Filed Sept. 28, 1948 INVENTOR. BURTON RGARRETT ATTORNEY race and in contact therewith is an annular ange 53 of a holder 54 for a felt oil ring 55, said elements cooperating to form a grease seal.

The other end of the rotor tubular member 4S has a counterbore 58 formed therein to aocommodate a cup-like member 51, the outer race 58 of a roller bearing, and a driving element to be presently described. The outer race 58 abuts the flange of the cup-like member-and abutting it is an axial flange 59 of a holder B0 for a felt oil ring 5|, constituting a grease seal.

The driving element includes a hollow bushing 52 which iits into the counterbore and is secured therein by means of a plurality of screws 63 which engage threaded holes formed partly in the bushing and partly in theA tubular member. The hollow bushing 52 has an extension 64 which projects beyond the end of the tubular member d8, and a sprocket 65 is secured thereto by means of filister head screws 66.

A shaft 61 has a middle portion l|38 of reduced diameter. Adjoining this portion at one end thereof is a portion 59 of precision diameter upon which is mounted the inner race of a roller bearing 1| which cooperates with the outer race 49. Adjoining the portion 69 of the shaft is a portion '52, also of precision diameter, upon which is mounted a collar 13 by means of dowel pins 16, and this collar abuts the inner race 10. The end of the shaft portion 12 extends into an elongated hole 16 formed in a Supporting bar 55, which elongated hole will presently be described.

Adjoining the middle shaft portion 68 at the other end thereof is a portion 11 of precision :A

diameter upon which is mounted the inner race 1S of a roller bearing 19 which cooperates with the outer race 58. Adjoining the portion 11, is a portion 80, also of precision diameter and smaller than the portion 11. A sleeve 8l, which is longer than the portion 80, is mounted thereon and abuts the inner race 18.

The shaft has a threaded portion 82 which is engaged by a threaded sleeve 83. This sleeve abuts the sleeve 8| and it forces the inner race 18 towards the inner race 10, at the other end of the shaft, and thereby all radial and end play of the bearings is eliminated. The shaft portion S2 is also engaged by an internally threaded ring 86| which is screwed hard against the threaded sleeve 83 for looking it in any adjusted position. The sleeve 03 and the ring 84 may be provided with Spanner holes or notches (not shown) so that they may be moved by means of spanner wrenches, for example.

The shaft has an end portion 85 beyond the threaded portion 82 and this portion extends into an elongated hole 31 formed in a supporting bar 38, which will be presently described.

The shaft 51 has an oil passage 89 extending into it from one endthereof, and a cross-hole 9|) therein communicates with this passage and with the interior of the cup-like member 50. The outer end of the oilpassage 89 is threaded and is engaged by `a grease fitting 0|.

The shaft 51 also has an oil passage 02 extending into it from the opposite end thereof to communicate with a cross-hole 93, which in turn communicates with the interior of the cup-like member 51. The outer end of the passage 92 is threaded and is engaged by a grease fitting 94.

The supporting bars 88 and 95 are substantially identical, so the description of one of them will suiiice for both. Referring now to Figure 4, the supporting bar 88 is shown. One end of axes of these holes lie on a common plane.

, the hole 81 is a threaded hole 91 having a counterbored hole 98 communicating therewith. A screw 00 engages the hole 91 and has a swiveled tip |00 adapted to be forced against the shaft portion S5..

The bar 88 has a 90 notch formed in the bottom edge thereof with its apex lying on a vertical line equidistant from the holes 81 and 81a. This notch has faces |0| and |02. Extending into the hole 81 from the face |0| is a threaded hole |03 which accommodates a screw |05 which has a swiveled tip |05 engaging the shaft portion S5.

Extending into the bar 88 from the other end thereof, and in alignment with the threaded hole 91, is a threaded hole |06 which communicates with the elongated hole 81a. The outer end of the hole |06 has a counterbore like the counterbore 98. A screw |01 is screwed into the hole |05 and is provided with a swiveled tip |08 adapted to engage the shaft extension a.

Extending from the face |02 of the 90 notch to the hole 81a is a threaded hole |09 which accommodates a screw ||0 which has a swiveled tip adapted to engage the shaft extension 85a.

By means of the screws 90 and |04, the rotor 46 may be adjusted toward or away from the rotor 41. Likewise, by means of the screws |01 and ||0, the rotor l1 may be adjusted toward or away from the rotor 46. For example, if it is desired to widen the space between the rotors, the screw 99 would be backed up and the screw |04 would be tightened. Likewise, the screw |01 would be backed up and the screw ||0 would be tightened. Now, if the rotors are to be adjusted toward each other to narrow the space between them, the screw |041 would be backed up and the screw S9 would be tightened and the screw H0 would be backed up and the screw |01 would be tightened.

, The supporting bar 05 is also provided with elongated holes, one of which, as above described, was designated by the numeral 1G, and these holes are also provided with screws ar ranged in a manner similar to those described in connection with Figure Li, so that in addition to adjusting the upper ends of the rotors, the

lower ends may also be adjusted. These rotors, as may be seen in Figure 2, are inclined with the horizontal. Reference above to the upper end is taken to mean the right ends, as seen in Figure 4, and the lower ends would be the left ends.

It has been described above that the rotor y46 has a sprocket i65 secured thereto. The rotor 41 has a like sprocket 65a secured thereto. The speed reducer 39 has an output shaft |2 to which is keyed a sprocket ||3.

An idler sprocket ||4 (see Figure 5 in addition to Figure 4) has a bearing bushing ||5 therein, and this bushing is journaled on a shouldered screw ||6 which engages a threaded hole adsteigt-'96 asnttto one tender. v"tf1.and islocked relation; Thetboss |52|isrfseeured to'andrrnoves withtthearm H1- 'Af-spring +22 embraces *the boss l=I2II and has 1' oneend I 23"-extending=finto 'a hole Lformedrin the "supporting ihar J'88 `randv fan-lv sprccketia, and thence'backito the-sprocket H3.

'ltheffurgeof=tl-1espringI2/2y on the farm |1 Aami consequently the idlersprocke't |I4,`keeps the chaintaut. As -thesprocket |13 Yrotates in the direction-.of thevarrow (clockwise) fthe rotor 46 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction fand. the roten I rotates in a clockwisedirection, so .their relativef/directions/of lmovement. are upwardly and hence l against 7the direction .of-.movement of articles'ftending :to pass v'between .them Now, sincef-therotors are inclined v:to .the horizontal, thatfis to say,'from. right tov left, asseenin Figure 2, and are nearer together at their upper .ends than theyaare attheir lower,..ends. .Thetarticles move downrithe .-inclinemntil .they @reach a Apoint where the space betweenzf'the .rotorszis .suicient for them to `pass through.. A -A ,sA-s vthey-.pass through .the .space between .the rotors,.they. fall into .one .of ;a.-,series .of `funnelshapedreceptacles .positioned below therotors. A l-Reierringto Figures 2,;andf3, inclined strips. I 26 and |21 are. spaced fanart from each other y.and form supports. for. aseries of; funnelfshaped members-.1125, |29, etc. .Spanning .the .junction of;y the funnel-shaped members |28 and |29, is a partingstrip I3| which has an extension |32 projecting into .the member, |28 andfan extension |'33zprojectinginto the member' |29. The portion =I3I as maybe secninFigure 3, :extendsupwardly between the rotors a substantial distance, The funnelflike @member 'I 2 8 has 1a :conduitfoutlet 34 whichzisfconnected ato a exible-.eonduit :I 3,5 which passes-'overf-its vend and which is secured .thereto by a circular clamp I36a. The.frame:2 I-has-an angular -:bracket |36 `secured thereto-and secured to 1the zbracket |36 in :any ,suitablemanner is A,an outleteconjduit I 3:1 .havingfabeveled y.end-v 3 8 which isvolosed fbyfaa` door |33 havingfears formed kintegral' therewith, .one i of which' spdesignated-.by the numeral; |40. Y' fAxipinxII Vpasses.throughvalignedholesin the @ears :|40 sand corresponding vholes iformed .in `the outlet-conduit |31, so .that the dcerl|-39 maybe opened when the machine is inl use kandeclosed when the :machine Tis f not .in use or -to prevent articles from ahingto the floor when-changing receptacles;- v.The-lexible ycondi-lit-I35-fe-tends i r-itotheroutlet zconduitI 3 1. Yse a's-not-:topresent .ai ledge to articles moving therethrough into said outlet conduit;v

A second parting strip |42' has .extensions |43 and .e l 44'. fthe extension# |43: projecting into the memberl29'1andthezextension I=44projectnginto the Amember A30." The iffunnelvlike member |29 conduit :unmet |45 .-.to which is 4vconnected :arc'flex-ibie iconduitf I .4.6. n-angulariibracket |41: is 'secured to-theframe 2 21| .inany vsuitable .mannerxand `secured to this .brcketzisfan outletconduit I48lhavingza beveled rend'aI l-,fiwlrieh4 is' f'nlosedxzby 2a -idoor 1 |50 .having tears srermeriiinteeraifthenewith. ronef-rotrwhich: is

Ctlflracledportion ylisier f rengages the hole inizfthe, buss 134 @mi mamies designated bysthenumeraliI-S A pinfIMpasses through aligned holes "in' ythe ears #and also through correspondingholes for-medin ltheoutlet conduit |48. Y s

Tn the embodiment--hereinshownanddescribed, the --outlet zconduits -I31an'd |48 are eshownin alignment. -Sinceffthc funnel-like members FI28 andl'29 -are sideebysida-theconnection |45 betweenthe Afunnell-ikemember I2 9 uand lthe outletccn'duit |48 is yoffset. A parting str-ip v|53 spans the junction ofA the :funnel-like member |33 andits neighborinf-the same-manner -as described above for the Yother parting strips and the outlet of the lfunnel-like member 413|) V is yconnected to the outletconduit151|.l Thus, -it will-be seenrthat every other funnellike member 'isf connectedto an'outletL conduit onlonelside -of the machine .and those Vin betweenfareconnectedto-outlet conduits on the opposite sidesof /fthe V1mac'lf1ine. rlhus, 1in Figure 2, outlet-conduits131,454, f |55, I56fsand I-51, may be seen. These may valso be seenin Figure 1,l aswell as outletv'conduits |48, 158,159.,

|66 and IBI.

I-n sorting articles, the #smallest article :sorted passes tothe'outlet ISI, while the largest .passes to the outletI 31,and-gradients,therebetween pass into |51, I6||, |56, 159, |55,-.|5B, I.54and1.I.48,-in the order named. Y

The outlet conduits |31, |54, |55, and|51 extend throughv a side'- platey I62of `thefcasingi2|l and the outlet` conduits |48, |158, |159, I50fand -II extend through the :opposite side plate n.163. An extension |54 of thesideplate..I2..fcrms..a portion` ofthe upper-surface of the :machine/fand terminates with an-edge I'Btwhich Lssubstan.-

tia-ily Yabove the center .line .ofxthe rotors. Likewise, anextension |55 of .the Yside:1'alate ,11.83 forms a portion of the -top of .themachinend terminates Withfan .edge |61 .Which. is substantially in line with' the .centerline of .the.rotor:=.4'1.. Secured to the under-surface .-of.;the.rfextension I54and borderingthe Aedge |55 is ;.afelt. stripiw. Also secured to the underfsurface .ot-the extension |63 and uborderingthaedge |61thereo`f is .1a like felt stripI 69.

--Mounted on "the .-.casing .20 at ,thefright .end thereof, as seenin Figure-lisa hopper|1|l.which has side walls I.1I .and |12,a;front end wal11|1:3 anda rear endzwall'which is comprised .off-seetions I14and |15 v.Whichare angular with respect to each other.

Withinv the hopper |15 and spaced; apa-rt from the endwall' |213 thcreo'fxare y opposed angle mein. bers |16 and;|11.:arranged .in one set on .the interior of the awall fI'1I, aind|18 and HS ranged in a set on,the."inter,or of. the Wallul'12. `Slidably mounted in the :hopper -I'iiiwgith one edge `between the angle members |16 :|11 and `with the opposite edge between the members |18 and V:|13 is fa partition Irnc `Itill which has von z its :upper edge, a handle 1|;8I.,

.by means vof whichit .mi-ay. beset .-sontbatrits bottom edge may be positioned atlvarious'heights Within the hopper |10.

The :hopper |10 :has :a :portion between the in contact WithJa-wallportion |82, therebyleatpn ing an opening |83 `:comm-unieating. with the upper endsof the :rotorsIlsa-'nd 41.

l The front end Wal1`|f13 hasafa bessltsecured thereto adjacent ther .upper-end thereof by screws 235, and this boss has a-:threitdet hole therein which istparallelfztoxthe 'tuali-|13g The eliedly on the upper end thereof a knurled knob |81. The lower end of the rod |85 is swiveled in a slidable frame |88, as seen in Figures 8, 9 and 10, in the following manner.

A hole extends into the slidable frame and the lower end of the rod |85 forms a working t in this hole. Adjacent to the lower end of the rod |85 is formed an annular groove |89 which is engaged by a pin |90 in the frame member |88. The frame member |38 has its opposite edges |9| and |92 engaged by Z-shaped brackets |93 and |94, respectively, which may be spot welded or otherwise secured to a plate |95 which is secured on the inner face of the wall |13 in centralized relation to the rotors 46 and 41 by means of screws 236. From this, it will be seen that by rotating the knob |81 in one direction, the frame is slidably moved upwardly and by rotating the knob in the opposite direction, the frame is slidably moved downwardly. The lower portion of the frame |88 is bifurcated, thereby leaving spaced solid portions |96 and |91 therein to accommodate a shaft |98. Journaled on the shaft |98 is a gate wheel 200, which has beveled edges |99 and 20| which respectively join the nat sides 202 and 203 thereof. The edges |99 and 20| are beveled to conform to the contours of the rotors in its average working position.

A guard 204 embraces a portion of the gate wheel 200 and is provided with a lange 205 which may be spot welded or otherwise secured to the frame |08. Thus, it will be seen that by rotating the knob |81 in one direction, the gate wheel is lowered and by rotating it in the opposite direction, the gate Wheel is raised. The plate |95 has a slot 206 formed therein to clear the gate Wheel and it also has downward extensions 201 and 208, the outer surfaces of which are curved and which approach parallelism with the rotors 46 and 41.

Referring now to Figure 7, which is a view taken on the outer face of the wall |13 opposite the portion of the wall |13 shown in Figure 9, a slidable member 209 has edge portions 2|0 and 2|| which are engaged respectively by Z- shaped bracket members 2|2 and 2|3 secured to the wall |13. A rod 2|4 fixed to the slidable member extends through a hole formed in L- shaped bracket 2|5 which is secured to the wall |13. The slidable member 209 has clearance spaces 2|6 and 2|1 between itself and the brackets 2|2 and 2|3 so that in addition to being slidable, the member 209 may move laterally within the limits of said clearances.

Journaled on the lower end of the slidable member 209 on shaft 2|8 is a roller 2|9 which has a rubber rim 220. A helical spring 221 positioned on the rod 2l4 between the upper end of the slidable member 209 and the bracket 2|5, urges the slidable member downwardly and consequently maintains the roller 2|9 in frictional engagement with the rotor 46 and the flat side 203 of the gate wheel 200.

A second slidable member 22| is slidably mounted in Z-shaped brackets 222 and 223 secured to the end wall |13. This slidable member is also provided with clearances similar to those described for the slidable member 209 and in addition to being slidable endwise, it also may be displaced laterally Within the limits of said clearances.

The slidable member 22| has fixed thereto a rod 224 which extends through a clearance hole formed in a bracket 225 secured to the end wall |13. Between the upper end of the slidable member 22| and the bracket 225, the rod 224 is embraced by a helical spring 226. The lower end of the slidable member 22| carries a shaft 228 on which is journaled a roller 229 which is provided with a rubber-like rim 230. The spring 226 urges the roller 229 into frictional engagement with the rotor 41 and the flat side 202 of the gate wheel 200.

Due to the fact that both the roller 2|9 and the roller 229 oppositely engage the flat faces of the gate wheel 20|), and due to the fact that these rollers are in frictional engagement with the rotors 46 and 41, the gate wheel 200 is rotated as long as the rotors are in motion. The rotor 46 rotates in a clockwise direction (as seen 1n Figure '1) and this causes the roller 2|9 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, and this, in turn, tends to move the front edge of the gate wheel 200 downwardly.

The rotor 41 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction and consequently the roller 229 is rotated in a clockwise direction and this roller, acting against the flat surface 202 of the gate wheel, also tends to move it in a direction wherein the outer end, as seen in Figure 7, is downwardly.

Due to the fact that the rotors 46 and 41 rotate in the opposite directions described, the pieces being sorted are urged upwardly within the space between the end wall |13 and the slidable partition |80, and due to the counterclockwise movement in the gate wheel 200, as seen in Figure 2, the pieces being sorted are urged backwardly within said space and the combination of these motions, together with the spacing of the bottom of the slide |80, ensures separation of the articles or pieces being sorted, because they are prevented from piling up on each other. It will be understood that the smaller the articles being sorted, the closer the bottom edge ofthe partition is adjusted or positioned with respect to the bottom of the hopper.

The gate wheel assembly may be easily removed and replaced by another one having a different contour, for example, by removing the screws 235 and 236.

Each rotor carries one or more lister head screws 231 which are rotated a predetermined distance fro-rn the hopper wall |13 inside the hopper and near the disc 200. These screws can be regulated so that their heads are flush with the surface of the rotor or they may be set so that they project any desired distance beyond the surface of the rotors and they function as agitators to facilitate the even flow of certain odd-shaped articles.

Although I have herein shown and described by way of example one embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the arrangements herein shown and described within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine having inclined rotors adjacent to each other and driven in opposite directions with their adjacent peripheries moving upwardly, an article hopper spanning and having a bottom opening communicating with portions of the upper ends of said rotors for containing articles to be delivered to portions of said rotors beyond said hopper, a slot formed in the wall of said hopper in alignment with a. vertical plane extending betweenv and equidistant from the axes said gate-.wheel to movefthe. lower portion .Lof-:its

periphery.I counter to the'. direction tof-ff thelmove: -mentrlioL articles down. said rotors, rthereby-spacinglsaidfarticlestherealong.

'2; In machine.having` inclined rotorsadja-f centlto-Leach otherand drivenin opposite directionswith their adjacent peripheriesimoving up wardly; an articleA hopperspanning andihaving abottom.. opening communicatingwith-l vpor-tions ot. the upper ends ofsaid rotors-,forrontaining articles to be delivered?. to portionsofy said rotors .beyondsaid hopper, a1 slot forinedY in theawall of saidthopper in alignmentwith a vertical plane extendingbetween and'equidistant from theatres -of saidrotors, a supporti spanning said.A slot and slidablysunported on saidrlast ,wall-of. said hopper, agate wheelhavingan axisV journalled in sai-'dlsupport and extending. through said slot, v.thal'ower portion ci. theperipheryof said wheel being. atieast.r partially between said rotors on said-vertical plane,` a frictionalroller engaging one oiisaid'rotors and one side face of'said wheel, a. secondffrictional roller engaging the other of .saidE rotors. and-the opposite face of said wheel, said frictional rollersbeing adapted to rotate said wheelfin a direction .whereby the lower portion of"v itsfperiphery is moved: counter to the direction offthemovernent-of articles down said-rotors, therebyispacing saidarticles therealong.`

' A machine. according'.` to-claim 2 in which anupwardly extending Wallis slidably. carried withinsaid hopper. in predetermined spacedlrelavtionlto said last .wall of. said hopper, thereby dividing said hopper into a larger reary compartnient.V andreJ smaller front compartment adjacent y tosaiolf last mentionedwall, both said` compartments having open bottoms.communicatingwith 'said'.porftions of the upper ends .of saidrrotora saidi partition being settable to position its lower endg apredetermined distance from said portions of said upper ends in accordance with the size of the .articles being handled.

Li. In. a sorting machine, a pair offy inclined vrotors havingA their axes on a common plane, means for adjusting said axes along said plane for varying the distance. between saidv rotors-J at f on said hopper for releasing articles onto said f rotors outside of and adjacent to said` hopper, said means lying on a centraly plane extending between and equidistant from 'thev axesfof` said rotors, and article receiving meansy disposed beneath said rotors.

.5.; In. a. sor-ting` machine, a pair of inclined rotors having their axes- `on. a commonplane, means rfor adjusting said axes alongsaidv plane 'for varying the. distance between said rotors at .each end. thereof, means tov rotate said. rotors in opposite directions so that their-adjacent surfaces are. constantly'moved upwardly, an open bottomed articlehopper. at and cooperating with the upper end portions of said rotorsY to receive articles toy be sor-ted.,. whereby articles. placed ihelemareiagi-tatedl a rotary `gate wheel-on said hopperimoyedsin denite timed relation ,withthe movement orfsaidfrotorsfor regulating thedeliv: ery; of;v articles.; from.. the upper end. portions c of said rctors;.to; p.ortionsthereof outside said hopper, said rotary gate wheel extending atleast partiallyLbetweenisaidirotors andl being equdis- .tantrfroinltheaxesof both said rotors, and article-receiving meansgdisposed beneath said last -rnentioned-portr1ons offsaidrotors.

6:.; In4` a,t sortingmachine, aA pair of inclined rotorsthaving :their .axes onl a common. plane,

means forl oidjustingsaid axes alongsaid plane fon varyin :the distance between said rotors at each endathereof', means to rotate s'aidrotors in oppositedirections so that their adjacent sur: faces,aretconstantlymoved upwardly, an article hopper. to .receive articles to be sorted, saidlhop-l penheine; comprisediin part of stationary. walls .andJ in, parterabottoni formed by upper, end :portions fof-,f said. rotors, va gate wheel on said hopperniovedcby.- atleast one of said rotors :for regulatingthe delivery of articles from the por? tionzofrsaidgfrotors inside saidhopper to4 portions ofrlsaidrotors'. external to said hopper, saidgate `whee1i-having a periphery extending between said rotorsfibelowsa; plane Vtangent to the upper pe-, ripheriesi et' the, latter, and article receiving meansdisposed` at; least, beneath saidV last men.- tioned portions ofasaidLrotors.

'7. In a sorting machine, a pair of inclined rotorsi having; their, aires. on .a common. plane,

means for. adjustingL said axes along' said -plane -fonvaryingy the distance between said rotors at each.,endfthereofgxmeans to rotate saidrotors in opposite; d-irections=, so that their adjacent. sur.- facesareconstantly moved upwardly, anartiole hopper SDalarminglandihaving a bottom opening Communicating.; with-portions of the upper ends of.;saidf;r,otors,to receive. articles to be sorted, said bottom .Openingthaving the samey inclination as Said rotors; andfgoff :such width that articles in saidiholperarefinacontact with are agitated bysaidirotorswithin "an arca thewidth of which isilmtdf byrthe distance. from `center to center Ofsaid; roto and article regulating means in Said .hopper.,includingV disc means journaledfin SnidzhQppen and having a central plane therethrough;equidistantrom the axes of said rotors @1351i cutting.;Said` common plane, said. disc means heir/ig.l driven jin a direction to cause its lower DDr-tion -to -i nove; opposite to the direction in which said; articles tend` to move from said upper portionszofsaid rotors withinsaid hopper to por# tionsoutsideioftsaidlhopper under the forceot gravity. .Bfn asorting.' machine, a pair of inclined rotorsghaving: their axes on a .common plane, means; foradjusting said axes along said plane for'varying. the/distance between said rotors at .eaehe'ndrthereot means to rotate said rotors'in oppositedirections' so.r .that their adjacent surfacesoreconstantly moved upwardly, an article hopperI spanning-.andy havingv a bottomv opening communicating. with portions of the upper` ends ofi-said; rotorsffto receive articles to beV sorted, said, bottom:v openingfhaving substantially the same `inclination as.- said rotors and beingof such widthfthat articles in said hopper are in contactzwith. andI agitated by said rotors within an areathe .width ofrwhich. is limited by ther dis'- tancervfroin. center-to center ofsai-d rotors', and article .regulating-means in said hopper: including a: discl journaled-f inl said hopper and having its peripherylying.j on a `vertical plane extend-ing between said rotors, and means driven by at least one of said rotors and arranged to drive said disc in a direction to cause its lower portion to move against the iiow of articles tending to move down the inclined surfaces of said rotors.

9. In a sorting machine, a pair of inclined rotors having their axes on a common plane, means for adjusting said axes along said plane for varying the distance between said rotors at each end thereof, means to rotate said rotors in opposite directions so that their adjacent surfaces are constantly moved upwardly, an article hopper spanning and having a bottom opening communicating with portions of the upper ends of said rotors to receive articles to be sorted, said bottom opening having substantially the same inclination as said rotors and heilig of such width that articles in said hopper are in contact with and agitated by said rotors within an area the width of which is limited by the distance from center to center -of said rotors, and article regulating means in said hopper including a disc journaled in said hopper and having peripheral portions adjacent to the surfaces of said rotors, and means frictionally driven by at least one of said rotors and frictionally driving said disc in a direction to cause its lower portion to move in a direction opposite to the direction in which said articles tend to move along said rotors under the force of gravity.

10. In a sorting machine, a pair of inclined rotors having their axes on a common plane, means for adjusting said axes along said plane for varying the distance between said rotors at each end thereof, means to rotate said rotors in opposite directions so that their adjacent surfaces are constantly moved upwardly, an article hopper spanning and having a bottom opening communicating with portions of the upper ends of said rotors to receive articles to be sorted, said bottom opening having substantially the same inclination as said rotors and being of such width that articles in said hopper are in contact with and agitated by said rotors within an area the width of which is limited by the distance from center to center of said rotors, and article regulating means at least partially within said hopper including a disc journaled on said hopper and having a central plane which extends between both said rotors, frictional rollers for rotating said disc, means urging one of said rollers into contact with one of said rotors and one side of said disc, and other means urging said roller into contact with` the other of said rotors and the opposite side of said disc.

l1. In a sorting machine, a pair of rotors having their axes on a common plane inclined with respect to the horizontal, means for adjusting said axes along said plane for varying the distance between said rotors at each end thereof, means to rotate said rotors in opposite directions so that their adjacent surfaces are constantly moved upwardly, an article hopper spanning and having a bottom opening communicating with portions of the upper ends of said rotors to receive articles to be sorted, said bottom opening having substantially the same inclination as said rotors, and side portions adjacent to said openings also inclined towards said rotors, said opening being of such width that articles in said hopper are in contact with and are agitated by said rotors within an area the width of which is limited by the distance from the center of said rotors and the length of which extends along said rotors from the upper ends thereof to a point where the articles exit from said hopper, adjustable partition means extending upwardly in said hopper for dividing the interior into a series of compartments the open bottom ends of which are adjacent to said portions of the upper ends of said rotors and the open top ends of which are adjacent to the upper end of said hopper, and a gate wheel in the last compartment of said series and means to rotate the same for regulating the spacing of the articles passing out of said hopper onto and down the incline of said rotors, said gate wheel having its lower periphery extending below and between the upper peripheries of said rotors.

12. In a sorting machine, a pair of inclined rotors having their axes on a common plane, means for adjusting said axes along said plane for varying the distance between said rotors at each end thereof, means to rotate said rotors in opposite directions so that their adjacent surfaces are constantly moved upwardly, an article hopper spanning and having a bottom opening communicating with portions of the upper ends of said rotors to receive articles to be sorted, said bottom opening having substantially the same inclination as said rotors, and side portions adjacent to said opening also inclined towards said rotors, said opening being of such width that articles in said hopper are in contact with and are agitated by said rotors within an area the width of which is limited by the dis tance from the center of said rotors and the length of which extends along said rotors from the upper ends thereof to the point Where the articles exit from said hopper, an adjustable partition extending upwardly in said hopper for dividing the interior into two compartments common to said portions of the upper ends of said rotors and arranged to be adjusted for metering the quantity of articles passing from onecompartment to the other along said rotors,l and a gate wheel at the exit of said last mentioned compartment and extending at least partially between said rotors for regulating the spacing of the articles passing through said exit and lengthwise of the rotors.

13. In a sorting machine, a pair of inclined rotors having their axes on a common plane, means for adjusting said axes along said plane for varying the distance between said rotors at each end thereof, means to rotate said rotors in opposite directions so that their adjacent surfaces are constantly moved upwardly, an article hopper spanning and` having a bottom opening communicating therewith portions of the upper ends of said rotors to receive articles to be sorted, said bottom opening having substantially the same inclination as said rotors, side portions adjacent to said opening also inclined towards said rotors, said opening being of such width that articles in said hopper are in contact with and are agitated by said rotors within an area the width of which is limited by the distance from the center of said rotors and the length of which extends along said rotors from the upper ends thereof to the point where the articles exit from said hopper', an upright partition slidably mounted in said hopper for dividing the interior of said hopper into two compartments one of which has a greater part of said upper portion of said rotors for its bottom than the other, said partition being adapted to be adjusted for meting a quantity of articles passing from one compartment to the other, and a regulating disc 13 in said last mentioned compartment and means for rotating the same in a direction wherein the lower portion of its periphery is between and below the upper portions of the peripheries of said rotors and moves in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the articles down the incline of Ysaid rotors toward the portions thereof outside said hopper.

14. The invention according to claim 10, in which the periphery of said disc has opposed concave surfaces formed thereon to conform to the contours of the rotors to prevent 'articles from sliding out of the hopper between the surfaces of the rotors and the disc other than centrally between said rotors.

15. The invention according to claim 10, in which said rollers are journaled on supports slidably mounted on said hopper and having their axes angular with respect to a vertical plane extending between said rotors, and in which said disc is carried on a movable support on said hopper so that the space between the periphery and said rotors may be Varied.

16. A sorting machine according to claim 10,

in which said rollers is each comprised of an inseparable ball bearing having a non-metallic ring thereon.

17. A sorting machine according to claim 13, in which said disc is adjustable toward and away from said rotors and is rotated by rollers frictionally engaging the sides thereof and each engaging one of said rotors.

BURTON R. GARRETT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 613,574 Johnson et al Nov. l, 1898 1,495,494 Lutz May 27, 1924 1,536,887 Kurtenbach May 5, 1925 1,651,522 Norman Dec. 6, 1927 1,853,176 Paradise Apr. 12, 1932 1,882,130 Fielder Oct. 11, 1932 2,062,946 Sorensen Dec. 1, 1936 2,080,717 Hitchcock May 18, 1937 2,343,042 Barry Feb. 29, 1944 2,428,774 Bergmann et al. Oct. 11, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 305,065 Italy Jan. 26, 1933 

